Sheriff's Department Arrests 'Scam' Suspect

Investigators say over the last several weeks, someone has been going to people's doors with a variety of stories about being in a desperate need for money.

Law enforcement says the suspect is bold. Driving across the county, pulling into driveway after driveway telling sad stories to get cash from sympathetic residents.

"He has told several stories of death in the family, of needing money for gas for whatever reason," said Sheriff Billy Sollie.

It seems his tactics were finally suspicious enough for someone to report him to authorities. Someone saw one of the transactions and called in a tag number which led authorities to the driver.

That person is now cooperating with authorities and turned over the identity of the man actually walking up to the houses. And authorities say this isn't his first time swindling sympathetic residents.

"Back after Katrina, he also used the same ploy to take money from people. So again this individual, we have him in custody. He's not going anywhere," said Sollie.

Investigators say they believe there could be several victims across Lauderdale County.

"If you have in the last three weeks donated cash or wrote a check to a black male with the story of hardship or difficulties, please contact the Lauderdale County Sheriff's Department at 601-482-9806.

Sheriff Sollie says this should also be a reminder for residents to be careful who they open the door for, because you never know their real intentions.

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